OLLISION AHEAD 22 MILES. RIGHT TWO LANES BLOCKED.

I didn’t like the looks of this electric sign while driving I-4 to the Komars’ West Virginia Northern session. Maybe they’d clean it up before I got there. Maybe. Was wondering if I should just get off Warpath One and let my funky GPS work me around it. Sipped my mocha and considered. Came over that ridge where you see open expanse to the west, with two bridges soaring over the highway. First thing I saw – a couple of CSX engines blowing along, general freight – MT hoppers, loaded ballast, some intermodals, couple of cool boxcars. The second thing I saw was the traffic. Hard braking, pumping the taillights to get the attention of those behind me. Hey, I can’t flag protect.

Okay, so got in the left lane for about forty-five minutes of stop and go traffic. Now, my mini burns oil. I know that and I added a lot of oil the other day in preparation for this trip. But now, sitting in the left lane, I was like Mosquito Control, blowing out all sorts of blue smoke. All I could do was think of a friend who blew his engine recently. No room or time to pull off so I just labored on, calling Greg and letting him know the situation. Ugh. Saturday morning at 8am and STILL people have to drive like the inattentive morons they are, getting into wrecks that annoy thousands of others. Listened to local radio with two bigots making implied racist comments about Spirit Airways and the passengers they attracted. If there is a lower level in the hell I don’t believe in, this would be it.

Turns out there was a fuel spill all over the road (with sand down) which was what the blockage was – the bent cars were clear. Finally got around that and opened the car up. It was still running fine and with speed, I didn’t see a trace of blue smoke behind me. Just puckered up and drove the rest of the way.

High Stepping into Elk View.

Got there at 9:20, just enough time to grab a cup of coffee and a reward-donut, put on my blue booties, get some unwanted advice on what I should have done on the drive, and then sign up for the last train available for me – the Clifton Forge local to Harris and back. And you know, that’s perfectly fine. It’s a comfort run for me. Just out, do the switching like I always do, and home. Didn’t push it and really just enjoyed myself. After that, I ran a couple of coal trains (one down the Madison branch). Did find a green signal on a coal train while coming west through Ashbury towards Huntington. Odd. Looked a bit closer as I approached – the crossover was set against me. Turns out the Hostler was putting a train to bed and hadn’t gotten around to clearing behind. Stopped and realigned, waiting until he was shut down before poking in after him.

After the usual great lunch, signed up for the hostler job. Now, we had some newbees in the house and there were a lot of bull sessions taking place – I’d come through hell to run trains, not talk. about them Yet when I took over the PM Hostler, I found that my first move, take a coal train off track 6 to Huntington, wasn’t going to happen. there was a long freight (sans engine) sitting there. Did some asking around and forensic hostling to discover that Asbury was three trains behind. As luck would have it, Gail was West End and we quietly (without storytelling) worked to get trains put away or past the yard limit boards or whatever. I actually enjoyed it – working diligently with a pro to get a scrambled yard back in fighting trim – and maybe that’s brown-nosing my way back to another session but there it is.

And here’s where I make a lot of friends. There was a lot of organization and philosophical talk going on  in the room. And while I don’t care for it (I’m lost in the thirties, to be honest), well, don’t screw around if you are falling behind. Focus. To quote Tuco from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: “If you are going to shoot, shoot. Don’t talk.”

Anyway, overall, a great session by a great couple who I am obviously coddling for return rights. Before heading home, I checked my oil and found I’d sloppily overfilled it – the dipstick was totally oiled. So I think that’s where the voluminous blue smoke cloud came from. And I’ll bow to the Gods of Traffic for this – got back to Oburg on the western beltway, swapping over to the 408 for a quick run into town. While coming in, one of those insufferable Jeep FUVs came roaring up in traffic and ducked past my bumper to run along an on-ramp lane and dive back in. Tough luck, cookie, since there were three FHP cars just letting their latest victim go. One of the prowl cars pulled out behind me and eased past (need I mention my speed was a bit down). Got over to Mr. Jeepy-McShit and lit the rack. Had to smile. After running my favorite trains and working with a pro, it was the perfect end to a rather eventful day.

Thanks to the Komar’s for having me out.

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All Photos Greg Komar

Waterlevel along the New River